Folding box with aligned lid



Aug. 21, 1962 F. H. BURGESS FOLDING BOX WITH ALIGNED LID 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1961 ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 1962 F. H. BURGESS 3,050,233

FOLDING BOX WITH ALIGNED LID Filed Jan. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 76 F ar vi d z r y ess j m 18- 5%; ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,050,233 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 3,050,233 FOLDING BOX WITH ALIGNED LID Frank H. Burgess, Landis Mill Road, RI). 1, Telford, Pa. Filed Jan. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 81,973 6 Claims. ((1 22944) This invention relates generally to folding-box constructions, and is especially concerned with a folding-box construction having an aligned lid, and a blank for such box construction.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a folding-box construction of the type described which is economical to manufacture, being capable of substantially complete manufacture by the use of automatic equipment, and wherein relatively inexpensive card stock having only one side white may be employed as only one side of the stock is exposed, and further wherein the instant box construction is adapted to safely contain relatively heavy articles by reason of a uniquely reinforced bottom-wall structure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding-box construction of the type described which may be quickly, easily and automatically set up, filled and closed, without gluing after initial assembly, to effect substantial savings in packing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a folding-box construction of the type described which incorporates an openable lid automatically aligned with the remainder of the box upon closure of the lid.

The instant invention further contemplates the provision of a folding-box construction having the above-mentioned advantageous characteristics which is neat and attractive in appearance while affording an unusually high degree of protection to the contents, say for use in packaging of fragile articles, which affords substantial space for decoration and copy, and which presents an entirely clean appearance free from undesirable protrusions, overhangs and the like.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a blank construction for a folding box having the advantages noted hereinbefore.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

I n the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view showing a blank for a folding box, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View showing an optional intermediate phase in initial assembly or working of the blank to form the inst-ant box;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view showing an assembled box of the present invention in its folded or fully collapsed condition;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the box of FIGURE 3 in its erected condition ready for filling;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the box of FIGURE 4 with the filling flap closed;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View showing the box of FIGURE 5 opened for use;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 38 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is illustrated therein a blank generally designated 20 preferably fabricated from a single, integral sheet of stiff bendable card material, such as pasteboard or cardboard. As will appear more fully hereinafter, only one side of the blank 20 is exposed in the finished box, so that relatively inexpensive, one-side white cardboard stock may be employed. As shown in FIGURE 1, the obverse or nonwhite side is seen.

The blank 20 includes a major, generally rectangular portion 21 defined within generally vertical boundaries constituted of a side edge 22, a fold line or crease 23 extending parallel to :the side edge, a horizontal lower boundary of an edge 24 extending laterally from the lower end of crease 23 and continuing as a fold line or crease 25 to the lower end of side edge 22. An upper horizontal boundary is constituted of an upper horizontal edge 26 extending laterally from the upper end of side edge 22 and continuing as a horizontal fold line or crease 27 terminating at the upper end of crease 23.

The generally rectangular main portion 21 is subdivided by a plurality of generally vertical, parallel spaced fold lines or creases 28, 29 and 30 extending panallel to the side boundaries 22 and 23, and between the upper boundary 26, 27 and lower boundary 24, 25. Thus, a generally rectangular panel 35, which will subsequently define a rear wall, is bounded within the side edge 22, upper edge 26, side fold 28, and lower fold 25. Alongside and contiguous to the rear-wall panel 35 is a generally rectangular panel 36, which is vertically coextensive with the panel 35 and bounded within the side fold 28, upper end fold 27, side fold 29, and lower edge 24. Alongside of and contiguous to the panel 36 is an additional panel 37 vertically coextensive with the panel 36 and defined within the side fold 29, upper end fold 27, side fold 30 and lower edge 24. Also, an additional panel 38 is located alongside of and contiguous to the panel 37, being defined within the side fold 30, upper end fold 27, side fold 23 and lower edge 24. Thus, the main portion 21 is subdivided by the folds 28, 29 and 30 into panels 35, 36, 37 and 38 which are hingedly connected together and arranged in side-by-side relation. The panels 36 and 38 may be substantially congruent to each other and serve, as will appear presently, as box side walls, While the panel 37 may be substantially congruent to the rear-wall panel 35 and serve as the box front wall.

Adjacent to but spaced belov. the upper edge 26 of back-wall panel 35 there is formed therein a fold line or score 40 extending parallel to the edge 26 and having its opposite ends terminating at the edge 22 and fold 28, respectively. A severance line or score 4d is formed in the side-Wall panel 36 extending from the fold line 40 across the latter side-wall panel to the fold line 29, and may decline obliquely in the direction toward fold line 29. Extending laterally across the front-wall panel 37 from the intersection of the severance line 41 with fold line 29 to the fold line 30 is a score or severance line 42, which may be substantially parallel to the fold 27. An addi tional severance line or score 43 is formed in the side-wall panel 38, extending thereacross, from the adjacent end of score 4-2 to the side fold 23 where it terminates at an elevation substantially equal to that of the fold line 40. Thus, the scores 41, 42 and 43 may be considered as a continuous score or severance line extending entirely across the three panels 36, 37 and 38, the score being defined by spaced aligned cuts and intermediate uncut regions or tags.

A securernent flap 44 may extend outward from and be hingedly connected to the side-wall panel 38 by the fold line 23. The flap 44 may be substantially vertically coextensive with its adjacent panel 38, and is preferably provided with a fold line or score 45 extending from the intersection of fold 23 and score 43 laterally across the flap in substantial alignment with the fold line 4! Extending upward from and hingedly connected by the fold line 27 to the upper end of front-wall panel 37 is a generally rectangular panel 47. The panel 47 is laterally coextensive with the panel 37, and in the erected box defines a top wall. Adjacent to opposite sides of the panel 47 are a pair of tabs 48 and 49 respectively extending upward from the upper ends of panels 36 and 33 and hingedly connected thereto by the fold line 27. A flap 50 extends upward or outward from the upper region of the panel 47, being laterally coextensive with the latter panel and hingedly connected thereto by a fold line or crease 51. The tabs 48 and 49 may be laterally coextensive with their respective adjacent panels 36 and 38, and vertically coextensive with the panel 47, terminating at their upper or outer ends in substantial alignment with the fold line 51.

Depending from the lower end of back-wall panel 35, laterally coextensive therewith, and hingedly connected to the back-wall panel by the fold line 25 is a panel 55. The panel 55 may be approximately congruent with the panel 47, and is defined within a pair of parallel side folds or creases 56 and 57, respectively in end-to-end alignment'with edge 22 and crease 28 and extending from opposite ends of fold line 25. The remaining bound of rectangular panel 55 is a fold line or crease 53 extending laterally between the fold lines 56 and 57 in spaced parallelism with the fold line 25. The panel 55, as will appear presently, serves as the bottom wall in the erected box.

Extending downward from the lower region of panel 55, laterally coextensive therewith and hingedly connected thereto by the fold line 58, is a generally rectangular panel 60 approximately congruent with each of the panels 35 and 37 The panel 60 is defined within the fold line 58, a pair of parallel fold lines or creases 61 and 62 extending'from opposite ends of the fold line 58 in respective end-to-end alignment with the fold lines 56 and 57, and a bounding edge 63 extending laterally between the ends of fold lines 61 and 62 remote from fold line 58. The edge 63 may be provided with a finger notch or cutout 64 spaced laterally between the fold lines 61 and 62.

On opposite sides of the panel 60 and hingedly connected thereto by fold lines 61 and 62 are respective generally rectangular panels 65 and 66. More specifically, the panel 65 is generally rectangular, coextensive with the hinged connection or fold line 61 and extending laterally outward therefrom. As viewed in FIGURE 1, the panel 65 is bounded within the fold line 61, a fold line 67 extending laterally outward from the upper end of fold line 61, a lower edge 68 extending laterally outward from the lower end of the fold line 61 parallel to the fold line 67, and an outer edge 69 extending parallel to the fold line 61 vertically between the laterally outer ends of fold line 67 and edge 68.

The panel 66 is similarly of rectangular configuration coextensive with the hinged connection or fold line 62, being defined within the latter fold line, an upper fold line 70 extending laterally outward from the upper end of fold line 62, a lower edge 71 extending laterally outward from the lower end of fold line 62 parallel to the upper fold line 70, and an outer edge 72 extending generally vertically between the laterally outer ends of fold line 70 and edge 71 parallel to the fold line 62.

The panels 65 and 66 are substantially congruent with each other and also substantially congruent with the panels 36 and 38. Further, as will more fully hereinafter, the panel 60 in the setup box serves as an inner front wall in substantially congruent facing relation with the panel 37, while the panels 65 and 66 serve as inner side walls in substantially congruent, facing relation with panels 38 and 36, respectively.

A pair of generally right-triangular elements or tabs 75 and 76 are respectively hinged to and extend laterally outward from the opposite sides of panel 55 by the side fold lines 56 and 57. In particular, the element 75 is defined within the fold line 56, an edge 77 extending from one end of the fold line 56 in substantial end-to-end alignment with the fold line 25, substantially normal to the fold line 56, a relatively short edge 78 extending downward and obliquely outward from the outer end of edge '77, and a relatively long, hypotenuselike fold line or crease 79 extending from the lower end of edge 78 obliquely inward to the lower end of fold line 56. The element or tab 76 may be of a configuration congruent to the element 75, including an edge 80 extending from the upper end of fold line 57 substantially normal thereto, a relatively short edge 81 extending obliquely downwardly and outwardly from the outer end of edge 80, and a hypotenuselike fold line or crease 82 extending obliquely downwardly and laterally inwardly from the lower end of edge 81 to the lower end of fold line 57.

An additional pair of approximately right-triangular or wedge-shaped elements 85 and 86 are respectively hingedly connected to the elements 75 and 76, That is, the element 85 is interposed between the element 75 and its adjacent panel 65, while the element 86 is interposed between the element 76 and its adjacent panel 66. Further, the element 85 is bounded within the intersecting fold lines 79 and 67, and a laterally outer edge 87 extending from the lower end of edge 78 to the upper end of edge 69. Similarly, the element 86 is bounded within the fold lines 82 and 70, and an edge 88 extending from the lower end of edge 81 to the upper end of edge 72.

As will appear more fully hereinafter, each adjacent, hingedly connected pair of right-triangular elements, the

r pair 75 and 85, and the pair 76 and 86, serve in the completed box to define a gusset or webbing which facilitates the setting-up operation and structurally reinforces the boX.

The above-described blank 20 may be provided with adhesive means or glue, as at 90 on a stripe extending along the side edge 22 of panel 35. Also, adhesive means or glue may be provided on the panel 55 at 91, .in the corner defined by the meeting of fold lines 25 and 56, and as at 92 in the corner defined by the meeting of fold lines 25 and 57. Further, adhesive means or glue may be provided on the elements 75 and 76, respectively, as at 93 and 94.

Formation of the box may proceed in the manner of FIGURE 2. The side panel 61 and its adjacent elements 85 and 75 have been folded laterally inward along the fold lines 61 and 56, being retained in this position by securement of the adhesive means 91 and 93. Similarly, the panel 66 and its adjacent elements 86 and 76 have been folded over along the fold lines 62 and 57 and re tained in the folded condition by securement of the adhesive means 92 and 94. Further, the panel 55 has been folded upward along its hinged connection 25 into facing relation with the lower region of panel 35, which effects upward swinging movement of panel 60 into facing relation with the upper region of panel 35.

Subsequent to the above-described condition of FIG- URE 2, the main portion 21 may be folded along fold line 28, now extending along fold line 62, and also along fold line 30. That is, the panel 35 may be swung forward from its condition of FIGURE 2 to overlie the panels 36 and 37, and the panel 38 swung forward to overlie the adjacent portion of panel 37. The flap 44 is swung forward with the panel 38 and may engage beneath the panel 35 for securement thereto by the adhesive means 90. This is the condition shown in FIGURE 3. Of course, this condition may be arrived at by methods other than that set forth above. Further, the flap 44 may be secured exteriorly to the panel 35, if desired.

In this condition, the folded box, generally designated 20a, may be sold and shipped to purchasers or packers for filling as desired.

In an initial stage of filling, a box, generally designated b is shown in FIGURE 4 prepared for receiving desired contents. In order to transform the folded box 20a of FIGURE 3 to its condition of FIGURE 4, it is only necessary to engage downward between the panels 60 and against the panel 55. The securement of webbing elements 75 and 76 to the panel 55 causes the panels 65 and 66 to swing away from the panel 60 extending substantially normal thereto, and the panel 60 engages the inner face of the panel 37 to space the latter from the panel 35 and cause the panels 36 and 38 to extend normal to the panels 35 and 37. Thus, the folded box 20a of FIGURE 3 is adapted to be automatically opened in the manner described above. The box may then be filled, as required, the tabs 48 and 49 swung inward toward each other, and the flap 50 bent along the fold line 51 to be swung downward with the panel 47 and engaged inward of the panel 35. This condition of the fully set-up box is shown in FIGURE 5 and designated 200.

It will now be appreciated that, in the set-up or erected box 20c, the panel 55 defines a bottom wall, while the webbing elements 75, 76, 85 and 86 are folded over to reinforce the bottom wall. Also, the panels 35 and 37, respectively, define back and front walls with the panels 36 and 33 extending between the back and front walls.

The panel 69 is disposed in facing engagement with the inner surface of the front wall 37, to define an inner front wall, while the panels 65 and 66 are located in facing engagement with the inner surfaces of side walls 38 and 36, respectively, to define inner side walls. The panel 47 provides a top Wall for the box 200.

In use, the top wall 47 need not be opened, and if desired, the top wall may be secured closed, as by gluing the flap 50, but this is not necessary. The container 200 may be opened, as shown in FIGURE 6, by severance along the lines 41, 42 and 43. This frees the top wall 47 and upper regions of the front wall 37, side walls 36 and 38, and back wall 35 for swinging movement relative to the remainder of the box about the hinged connection 40. Thus, the swingable upper region of the box defines a lid 100. In its closed condition of FIGURE 5, the lid 100 is in alignment with the remainder of the box, and maintained in such alignment by internal reception of the upper regions of the inner front and side walls 6%, 65 and 66. However, the lid 1% may be swung about the hinged connection 40 to the open condition shown in FIGURE 6, exposing the interior of the box 20c for access, as required. A degree of restraint is afforded to the lid 100 by its hinged connection 40 and the aligning action of the inner front and side walls 60, 65 and 66, which effectively deters or prevents inadvertent opening of the lid.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a unique folding-box construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well-adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made Within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding-box construction comprising front, back and side walls hingedly connected together; a top wall extending over the space between said front, back and side walls; said front and side walls being formed with a continuous severance line spaced below said top wall having its ends terminating at opposite sides of said back wall; said back wall being provided with a hinge line extending between the ends of said severance line; said top wall and front-, backand side-wall regions above said severance and hinge lines forming a hinged lid; a bottom wall hingedly connected to the lower region of said back wall and extending forward to the lower region of said front wall; an inner front wall extending upward from the forward region of said bottom wall along the inner surface of said front wall and terminating upward beyond said severance line; inner side walls extending rearward from opposite sides of said inner front wall along said side walls and having their upper edges spaced above said severance line, said hinged lid being swingable between a closed position encompassing the upper regions of said inner front and side walls and an open position rearward of said inner front and side walls; and webbing means connecting said inner side walls to said bottom wall for swinging said inner side walls between a collapsed condition facing said inner front wall when said bottom wall is coplanar with said inner front wall and a set-up condition normal to said inner front wall when said bottom wall is normal to said inner front wall.

2. A folding-box construction according to claim 1, said webbing means comprising a pair of substantially right-triangular pieces each having one side hingedly connected to the lower edge of a respective inner side wall and having its hypotenuse hingedly connected to said bottom wall.

3. A folding-box construction comprising front, back and side walls hingedly connected together; a top wall extending over the space between said front, back and side walls; said front and side walls being formed with a continuous severance line spaced below said top wall having its ends terminating at opposite sides of said back wall; said back wall being provided with a hinge line extending between the ends of said severance line; said top wall and front-, backand side-wall regions above said severance and hinge lines forming a hinged lid; 21 bottom wall hingedly connected to the lower region of said back wall and extending forward to the lower region of said front wall; an inner front wall extending upward from the forward region of said bottom wall along the inner surface of said front wall and terminating upward beyond said severance line; inner side walls extending rearward from opposite sides of said inner front wall along said side walls and having their upper edges spaced above said severance line, said hinged lid being swingable between a closed position encompassing the upper regions of said inner front and side walls and an open position rearward of said inner front and side walls; and webbing means connecting said inner side walls to said bottom wall for swinging said inner side walls between a collapsed condition facing said inner front wall when said bottom wall is coplanar with said inner front wall and a set-up condition normal to said inner front wall when said bottom wall is normal to said inner front wall, said top wall being hinged to and extending rearward from the upper region of said front Wall and terminating at the upper edge of said rear Wall, and a flap on the termination of said top Wall and engageable downward along the inner surface of said rear wall.

4. A folding-box construction according to claim 3, said inner side walls extending rearward substantially to said back wall and downward substantially -to said bottom wall for connection to said webbing means.

5. A blank for an aligned-lid folding box comprising a generally rectangular main portion provided with parallel fold lines subdividing the main portion into generally rectangular front-, backand side-wall panels hingedly connected together along adjacent side edges; a generally rectangular bottom-wall panel extending from and hingedly connected by a fold line to the lower edge of said back-Wall panel; a generally rectangular inner frontwall panel extending from and hingedly connected by a fold line to the edge of said bottom-wall panel remote from said back-wall; a pair of inner side-wall panels hingedly connected to opposite sides of said inner frontwall panel; and a pair of generally rectangular gusset panels each having an adjacent pair of side edges hingedly connected to a respective side edge of said bottom-wall panel and the adjacent end edge of the adjacent inner side-Wall panel.

6. A blank for an aligned-lid folding box comprising a generally rectangular main portion provided with par allel fold lines subdividing the main portion into generally rectangular front-, backand side-Wall panels hingedly connected together along adjacent side edges; a generally rectangular bottom-wall panel extending from and hingedly connected by a fold line to the lower edge of said back-Wall panel; a generally rectangular inner front- Wall panel extending from and hingedly connected by a fold line to the edge of said bottom-Wall panel remote from said back-Wall; a pair of inner side-Wall panels 10 hingedly connected to opposite sides of said inner front- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 887,729 Kirmse May 12, 1908 2,703,198 Arneson Mar. 1, 1955 2,906,444 Weiss Sept. 29, 1959 2,983,424 Glass May 9, 1961 

